Heating element for electric water heaters



April I0, 1934.

A. J. sToNE HEATING ELEMENT FOR ELEcTRIvcw-ATER HEATERS @gam/Mw;

Filed June, 12, 1931-` Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATING ELEMENT FOR ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS 2 Claims.

My invention relates to heating elements and provides a device of this character particularly designed for electric Water heaters, and my intention is primarily to continue the process of development in this iield with reference to prior inventions, the applications for which having been filed by me respectively, February l, 1930, Serial No. 425,153, and March 26, 1930, Serial No. 439,094.

One of the advantages of my invention is that it positively produces instantaneous hot water at all times, it is decidedly economical in operation, is free from any source of undesirable fumes, and is also sanitary in every respect. It occupies a small space and may be installed in any convenient place.

The invention is entirely automatically controlled, and there are no mechanical parts to become worn or disintegrated. All parts are care- I v fully protected against burning or electric shocks particularly for children.

The invention possesses further advantages, all of which will be clearly revealed during the course of the following detailed description, illustrated throughout the accompanying drawing, and more fully pointed out in the subjoined claims.

With reference to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the complete device through the center of the same.

Figure 2 is a reduced top plan view of the invention with a portion of the mineral wool insulation and outer case in section.

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially upon line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken upon line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view upon line 5 5 of Figure 1.

The invention comprises a tubular casing indicated by the numeral 1 and is enclosed at the bottom thereof by cup shaped member 2, and at the top thereof by cap 3, and the said cap having internal threads to engage sleeve 4, the upper end of the said sleeve adapted to engage pipe 5, and the opposite end of the said pipe engages internally threaded plate 6. Water tank A has an opening in the top thereof to conform to the said plate as clearly seen in Figure 2, and is provided with threaded holes in order that the said cap may be secured thereto by cap screws 7 as shown. The pipe line as explained is for the purpose of forming a water-tight passage for the main electric circuit supply wires 8, and the said -r wires passing through junction box 9 and like- 5 wise through conduit 10 and heat regulating appliance (not shown) to the snap switch (not shown) and the said switch at the lower portion of the device.

Wires 8 are respectively connected to terminal posts 11, also the ends of high resistance wire 12, and the latter passing through refractory tubes 13 in a manner as shown in Figures 1 and 5, and each of the said tubes being within metallic tubes 14, and the said tubes arranged as in Figure 4, the lower end of the said tubes being l'.65 embedded within the metal of cup shaped member 15 and the upper end thereof likewise embedded within a similarly formed cup shaped member 16, the said tubes substantially retained in this fixed relation. Member 16 has external To threads to engage sleeve 4, while member 15 is likewise threaded to engage member 2 and permanently fixed in this position as indicated. In Figure 1 it is clearly seen that terminal posts 11 are protected by insulating disc 17 by which 7.5 they are supported, and the said disc being supported by stud 18, the lower end of which is secured to member 16 as shown, and the usual nuts employed for the said terminal posts and stud. Insulating disc 19 is also provided and 80 has a plurality of holes for passage and protection of wire l2, also a similarly disposed insulating disc 20 is provided to protect wire 12 from metal in its looped passing from one of the tubes 13 to another, as in Figures 1 and 5.

With particular reference to Figure 1 it is seen that the heating element unit just expressed is suspended within tank A and permanently retained in this position by plate 6, and a cold water inlet to the said tank is provided at the lower portion thereof and likewise an adequate hot water outlet, both of which are not indicated in the drawing. Cold water entering from the lower portion of thesaid tank enters tubular casing 1 through holes or ports 21 in the sameY and is instantly heated byvirtue of tubes 14 which encase wire 12 as previously explained, and circulates as indicated by the arrows through street Ls 22 and pipes 23, and in this manner the water is in continuous circulation likewise'ioo contacting heated tubes 14, thus retaining maximum uniform heat of the entire volume of water within tank A at all times when the switch is on, and the temperature of the water automatically governed by any suitable thermostatic ap- 105 pliance.

The following elements are no part of the device claimed but are referred to in order to illustrate the relation of the invention with the complete water heater: 'U0

Outer casing B may be provided and is suii'iciently large to completely encase tank A with mineral wool C packed completely around the said tank as indicated in Figure 2, which is the usual method for preventing loss of heat.

With the aid of the accompanying drawing I have hereinabove described one complete embodiment of my invention, the same is nevertheless susceptible to certain minor changes in the details oi construction during the process of any probable further development for the market, however such changes would consistently be embraced within the range of the general principle as described and later claimed. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a Water heater, a heating element consisting of a vertically arranged tubular casing, supported by and positioned Within a water tank, the lower end of the said casing er1- closed by a cup-shaped member, a vertically arranged tube Within the said casing, means for securing the lower end of the said tube to the similar end of the said casing, and this means comprising an externally threaded cup-shaped member adapted to engage the upper end of the first-named cup-shaped member, and the lower end of the said tube fixed with the first-named cup-shaped member.

2. In a Water heater, a heating element having a vertical tubular casing Within a water tank, a vertical tube Within the said casing, the uppermost end of the said casing being enclosed by a cap sleeve, the said member adapted to engage a similar threaded sleeve the upper end of which is connected to conduit for passage of electrical wires outwardly from the device, means for supporting the upper end of the aforesaid tube to the similar end of the said casing, comprising a cup-shaped member adapted to engage the last-named sleeve member, and the said end of the said tube xed with the said cup-shaped member.

ALBERT J. STONE. 

